Henry joseph rose



Patented Aug. 2, I898. H. J. ROSE & W. GILBERT-COOPER.

No; 608,48l.

MILITARY EQUIPMENT.

(Application filed Dec. 21, 1897.1

(No Model.)

rm: uonms PETERS co, PNOTO-LITHQ, msumamu. m c.

. Patented Aug. 2, I898. H. J. ROSE & WQ GILBERT-COOPER. MILITARY EQUIPMENT.

(Application filed Dec. 21, 1897.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

No. 608,48l.

" UNITED STATES PATENT Fries.

HENRY JOSEPH ROSE, OF HYTHE, AND WILLIAM GILBERT-COOPER, OF DOVER, ENGLAND.

MILITARY EQUIPM ENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part ofIietters Patent No. 608,481, dated August 2, 1898. Application filed December 21,1897. $erial 'No. 662,373. (a. model.) Patented in England April so, 1896, No. 9,140.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, HENRY JOSEPH ROSE, deputy surgeon -'general, of 8 Beaconsfield Terrace, I-Iythe, and WILLIAM GILBERT- OOOPER, formerly lieutenant and now captain, Second Battalion, East Surrey Regiment, of the Shaft Barracks, Dover, county of Kent, England, have invented new and useful Improvements in Equipments for Military and other Purposes, (for which we have obtained Letters Patent in Great Britain, dated April 30, 1896, No. 9,140,) of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Our invention relates to an improved equipment for military and other purposes-such, for instance, as sporting, cycling, touring, and the like; and ithas for its object to provide improved means of carrying a knapsack or valise, greatcoat, canteen, pouch, and other articles, so as to combine the maximum of convenience with the minimum of discomfort to the wearer.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, wherein- Figures 1 to 4: show inperspective our improved equipment in use, Fig. 1 being a rear view of the wearer carrying the equipment, without canteen, greatcoat, or valise, Fig. 2 a front view with ammunition-pouches in position, Fig. 3 a rear view with canteen, greatcoat, and valise all suspended from the equipment, and Fig. 4 a rear view with greatcoat worn, the canteen and valise being slung. Fig. 5 is an inside or front view of the back frame with the valise slung by two forms of attachment. Fig. 6 is an outside or rear view of the lower part of the back frame, showing details. Figs. 7 and 8 show the mode of at tachment of an additional pouch.

The equipment comprises an open frame A, of oblong form, longer in height than width, straight side members, approximately U-shaped top and bottom members, and a middle cross-bar A, as'shown. This frame is made, preferably, of sheet metal covered with leather and is adapted to carry the knapsack or valise, greatcoat and canteen, each independently of the other two, by means of the attachments hereinafter described. The braces B are detachably connected to the frame by their ends being passed through loops 1), then folded back and adj ustably, but permanently, secured by buttons b, (orit may be bybuckles,) the loops 1) being carried by brace'extensions B, pivoted to the lower member of the frame A, so as to accommodate themselves to the angle assumed by the braces, and they extend below the frame for a purpose hereinafter explained. The braces B cross the frame A diagonally and are held in position by passing through loops a, attached to the upper member thereof. At the point where the braces pass over the shoulders they are provided with adjustable shoulder-pads 0, formed of thick pieces of leather with cross-slits near the ends through which thebraces are'passed, as shown, the braces thence passing down in front of the shoulders and beneath the arms to the back, where their ends are detachably and adj ustablyconnected by hooks d on buckles, as shown, (or it may be by buckles alone,) either to tabs D, Figs. 1, 5, and 6, attached one at each side to the lower part of the back frame A or to the valise or knapsack when the one or the other is carried. The braces 13 are kept ,in position in front of the shoulders and at the sides of the chest by a stay strap'E, Fig. 2, which passes transversely across the front of the body be low the chest and is connected to the braces 13 by the latter passing through tight-runnin g loops 6, to which the stay-strap E is adj ustably buckled, as shown, the effect of this strap being to keep the braces entirely free from the armpits and maintain the whole equipment in position on the body without To the stay-strap E are attached and serve as additional supports for ammunition-pouches H when such are carried on the waist-belt w, and the stay-strap also serves to carry, if required, an additional pouch 2', attached as indicated in Figs. 7 and 8, which are rear or inside views of the stay-strap E and pouch 'i, the latter shown open in Fig. 7 and closed in Fig. 8. In place of a pouch i a pistol-holster or other requisite may be carried on the stay-strap E.

The valise F (or the knapsack) when carried is supported by tabsf, (shown at the lefthand side of Fig. 5 as viewed,) riveted to the valise and passed through loops b Figs. 1 and 5, on the lower ends of the brace extensions 11 on the frame, then doubled back and secured to studsf on themselves, these tabs f passing through loops f on the back of the valisc, so as to hold the latter snugly against thebody. Theloops arepreferablyformed, as shown in Fig. 5, by a strap f, attached at the middle and ends to the upper edge of the valise. The valise or knapsack might be otherwise securedfor instance, by hooksf" f or studs, as shown at the right-hand side of Fig. 5 as viewed, on its side next the body to the eycleted ends I) of prolongations of the brace extensions ll, which would, like the tabs f, already described, be passed through loops f on the valise and when not in. use would be doubled back under tabs, as shown in Fig. (3. In either case the valise or knapsack when thus supported by the back frame A and braces 13 is steadied laterally by the attachment of the hooks (Z of the braces to D- loops 9 on the valise or knapsack.

The back frame A is also provided with D- loops near the top and bottom of each side member of the frame for the sling-straps K, used for carrying the greatcoat, as shown in Fig. 3, or the valise, as in Fig. 4. By the attachment of the straps to D-loops situated as described the greatcoat is supported when encircled by said straps above the valise or knapsack, butindependentlythereof. \Vhen neither the great-coat nor the valise is carried, these straps may be drawn tight through the D-loops 7.: and the loose ends folded or coiled, as shown at the right-hand side of Fig. 1, or in other convenient manner. The D-loops 7; are pivoted on the frame, so as to be reversible in order to enable the direction of the straps to be accommodated to suit the amplitude of the article which they encircle.

To the middle cross-bar A of the frame A is made fast a strap L for the purpose of supporting the canteen M, Figs. 3 and 4-, in position, the end of this strap being made fast to a buckle 7, attached to the top of the frame A and when not in use coiled or folded in any convenient manner. The middle cross-bar A also forms a convenient point of attachment for a strap or straps, whereby to suspend a rifle, gun, or other article, if required.

\Vhen used for other than military purposes, it will be obvious that the back frame A, braces 13, and stay-strap E may be similarly used for carrying such only of the articles described as may be suited for the particular purpose or any other articles which it may be desired to carry.

It will be obvious that the stay-strap may be used for connecting at the front braces arranged and fastened at both ends at the back, as described, whetlfer the back frame be used or not.

\Ve claim 1. In an equipment for military and other purposes, the combination with a back frame adapted to carry the knapsack,valise or other article, and braces fastened to the back frame, passing over the shoulders down in front of the body and thence to the back where they are made fast, of a stay-strap adjustabl y connecting the braces across the front of the body below the chest, the said stay-strap serving to keep the braces clear of the armpits, assisting in supporting and distributing the weight carried, and maintaining the whole equipment in position without the assistance of the usual waist-belt, as specified.

2. In the herein-described improved equip ment, the combination with the braces attached at their rear ends to a back frame and adapted to be detachably connected by their other ends either to said frame or to a knapsack or valise suspended therefrom, of a stay strap arranged to pass trausverselyacross the front of the body below the chest and loops to which the stay'strap is ad justably secured, the said braces passing through the said loops, said stay-strap connecting the braces at the front so as to keep them clearof the armpits and adapted not only to maintain the braces and the equipment generally in position without the aid of the ordinary waist-belt, but also to support pouches or other requisites, sub stantially as specified.

3. In the hereinalescribed equipment, the combination with the back frame, braces attached thereto and a stay-strap adjustably connecting the braces at the front and arranged to extend transversely across the body below the chest, of a knapsack or valise suspended from the lower part of the back frame and steadied laterally by the front members of the braces, substantially as specified.

4. In the herein-described. equipment, the combination with the back frame having top and bottom members, straight side members and a middle cross-bar, of the braces crossing said back frame diagonally, the brace extensions pivoted to the lower member of the frame, and to which the said braces are secured, reversible loops pivoted on the back frame near the top and bottom of each side member of the frame, sling-straps attached to said loops, and a strap attached to the middle cross-bar of the frame and detachably connected wit-h the top member of the frame, substantially as specified.

5. I11 the herein-described equipment the combination with the back frame having straight side members, top and bottom members, and a middle crossbar connecting the side members, of the braces crossing the said back frame diagonally, the brace extensions pivoted to the lower member of the back frame and extcndingbelow the frame, the lower ends of said pivoted brace extensions being ar- ITO 608,481 g a a ranged for connection with a knapsack or and arranged to extend across the front of the valise, the said braces being-connected at body below the chest substantially as speci- [0 their rear ends with the upper ends of the fied.

brace extensions and provided at their other HENRY JOSEPH ROSE.

5 ends with attaching means, a strap attached WILLIAM GILBERT-COOPER.

to the middle cross-bar and adapted to be se- In presence of cured to the top member of the frame, and a C. G. CLARK,

stay-strap connecting the braces at the front T. W. KENNARD. 

